Kentucky basketball had 11 former players performing in the 2024 NBA Summer League, including all three who were drafted this year. With the action winding down in Las Vegas, several ESPN analysts discussed some of what they saw.
Reed Sheppard was heavily praised by the group. Tim Bontemps called him the biggest surprise of the Summer League, saying:
From the start of summer league, Reed Sheppard looked the part. I was high on Sheppard’s potential during the draft process, and he showed with his play in Las Vegas why the Rockets should be very excited about his future in Houston — where he could be a perfect fit alongside Amen Thompson as a long-term backcourt tandem. If it weren’t for the crowded Houston roster and rotation, he would be my clear pick for Rookie of the Year.
When asked which rookie would have the biggest impact on their team, they were nearly unanimous in saying Sheppard.
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On the other end, Jeremy Woo mentioned Rob Dillingham as a disappointment. He said:
Timberwolves No. 8 pick Rob Dillingham struggled a bit with efficiency. He looked uncomfortable at times, which could be a result of the on-court inactivity due to injury seen in his pre-draft process. With his lack of physical strength at this stage, he doesn’t have a lot of margin for error.
Big Blue Nation had plenty of players to root for over the past few weeks, with some old favorites getting playing time. Next up, the regular season, and seeing how the Summer League performances translate.